Variable angle cutting guide and method of using the same

Abstract

A cutting guide includes a body and a rotatable device. The body includes a top portion, a bottom portion parallel to the top portion, and a side portion connecting the top and the bottom portions. The rotatable device is coupled to one end of the top portion of the body, and includes a pivotal element and a handle. The handle in the rotatable device has a first portion coupled to the pivotal element, and a second portion configured to be rotated around an axis of the pivotal element. Each of the top portion of the body, the side portion of the body, the bottom portion of the body, and the handle has one respective edge providing a respective guide surface for cutting a bone in a surgical procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cutting guide, comprising:
 a top, a bottom, with a side that connects the top and the bottom; and 
 a handle coupled to one end of the top by a pivot so that the handle rotates about an axis of the pivot, 
 wherein each of the top, the side, the bottom, and the handle has one edge that defines a guide surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting guide is configured to be positioned against a first bone with each guide surface configured so that a surgical tool is received for cutting the first bone. 
     
     
       3. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot is arranged substantially perpendicular to the cutting guide, and the handle is movable within a range of from 0 to 60 degrees relative to the top. 
     
     
       4. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handle, the top, the side and the bottom has a surface being flat and coplanar to one another. 
     
     
       5. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting guide and the handle define a slot opening between the bottom and the handle when the handle is in a position away from the bottom. 
     
     
       6. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot comprises a device selected from a group consisting of a screw, a shoulder bolt, a dowel pin, a combination of a bolt and a nut, a wrenching device, a lock and gear device, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , further defining at least two pin holes sized and arranged so as to receive pins to couple the cutting guide to a bone. 
     
     
       8. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the handle defines at least one pin hole sized and configured to receive a pin to couple the handle to a bone. 
     
     
       9. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom is parallel to the top. 
     
     
       10. The cutting guide of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting guide further defines a slot in the bottom. 
     
     
       11. A method of using the cutting guide of  claim 1 , comprising:
 positioning the cutting guide against a first bone of a patient so that one of the edges of the top, the side, the bottom, and the handle match with the first bone; 
 adjusting the handle so as to be oriented to a patient-specific angle relative to the cutting guide; and 
 cutting the first bone along one of the edges of the top, the side, the bottom, and the handle after the handle is adjusted. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cutting guide is used in a surgery of total ankle arthroplasty, the first bone is a tibia, and the handle is aligned along and covering a medial malleolus. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning the cutting guide on the first bone, wherein the cutting guide defines at least two pin holes, and is coupled to the first bone by inserting at least two pins into the at least two pin holes. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 cutting a portion of a second bone, wherein the cutting guide further defines a slot in the bottom that matches a portion of the second bone to be cut. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second bone is a talus. 
     
     
       16. A kit, comprising:
 a cutting guide comprising: 
 a top, a bottom, with a side that connects the top and the bottom; and 
 a handle coupled to one end of the top by a pivot so that the handle rotates about an axis of the pivot, 
 wherein each of the top, the side, the bottom, and the handle has one edge that defines a guide surface; and 
 a surgical tool configured for cutting a bone surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the pivot comprises a device selected from a group consisting of a screw, a shoulder bolt, a dowel pin, a combination of a bolt and a nut, a wrenching device, a lock and gear device, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       18. The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the cutting guide defines at least two pin holes sized and configured to receive pins to couple the cutting guide to a bone. 
     
     
       19. The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the bottom is parallel to the top. 
     
     
       20. The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the surgical tool is selected from the group consisting of a high speed burr, a drill, an osteotome, a sawblade, a cutting reamer and any combination thereof.